Could you please circulate this around your contact/member lists
and post up on websites etc.? More information in the Stop New Nuclear newsletter. Mobilise for Caroline Lucas’s amendments to the Energy Bill Caroline Lucas, has tabled six amendments to the Energy Bill that is currently going through Parliament. The amendments aim to challenge the unfair support being given to new nuclear at the expense of renewables. The amendments call for: greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of any contracts drawn up between government and nuclear companies; the removal of payments to nuclear companies through contracts for difference or the capacity mechanism; and the removal of any public underwriting of construction costs or other investment contracts. Caroline has asked for our help in mobilising support for these amendments. We would therefore be very grateful if you could print off the letter below and send it to your local MP. (Its basically asking your MP to support Carolines changes to the Energy Bill). It would be even better if you added some comments of your own at the top of the letter: apparently MPs take more notice of letters that are personalized. It would also be really useful for us to know which MPs have been sent the letter. So if youre emailing your letter, could you please add our email address (campaign) in the blind copy/Bcc subject line. If youre sending the letter by post, could you send us a short email to let us know who youve sent it to. Most important of all, we understand that the report stage of the Energy Bill will take place on the 3rd and 4th of June, so please send your letter as soon as possible. If you are unsure who your MP is, youll be able to find the details here (if you are unable to open this link, go tohttp://www.theyworkforyou.com). DRAFT LETTER TO MP Dear [insert name of MP], I am writing about the Energy Bill to ask you to support the six amendments on nuclear power. These amendments have been tabled by the Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, and are gaining cross party support. I would like you to add your name to amendment numbers 23 to 28 before Report Stage of the Bill, which will take place on 3rd and 4th June, and to represent my views by speaking and voting in favour of these amendments in the House of Commons. The Coalition Agreement made a very clear promise that new nuclear power stations would only be built if the industry got no public subsidy. I am disappointed that ministers are backtracking from this. Because of the huge cost increases for new reactors and the withdrawal of major companies from the consortium interested in building nuclear power, they are now introducing mechanisms to provide financial support through the Energy Bill. I am very concerned about the high cost of nuclear power and the secrecy of the Governments negations with EDF Energy. Estimates of the cost of electricity from new nuclear are around double the current electricity prices and the Governments current proposals would lock us into these high prices for the lifetime of the power station, i.e. around 40 years. You may have read that Connie Hedegaard, the EU climate change commissioner, said that, whilst some people believe nuclear is cheap, even offshore wind is cheaper than nuclear, see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/17/wind-cheaper-nuclear-e…. I believe that renewable energy sources, coupled with new storage technology, energy demand reduction, and wider European integration through cross-border electricity interconnectors can provide the necessary generation capacity. Germany is providing a strong example of a nuclear-free energy strategy that is safe and affordable. Furthermore, Ed Davey, Secretary of State, has said that nuclear power must be price competitive and represent value for money for consumers if it is to be taken forward. More recently, Michael Fallon, Energy Minister, said: Any deal reached would have to be fair, affordable and value for money. Caroline Flint has said that Labour is in favour of nuclear power but that the decarbonisation of our power supply must be done in the most cost-effective way. And that any strike price agreed must reflect a fair deal for bill payers. There are three key amendments that I would like you to support even if you are not opposed in principle to nuclear power: Firstly, in order to achieve these aims, please will you support amendment 24. This already has cross party backing and would ensure that payments under a Contract for Difference for nuclear electricity are not greater than payments for any form of renewable generation. This would recognize that nuclear is a mature technology – as well as cross party consensus on the importance of protecting bill payers from unnecessarily high costs. This amendment would prevent nuclear power from getting a larger subsidy than less mature renewable energy technologies, in terms of price per megawatt hour and the length of the contracts that would be provided. Secondly, I would like you to support amendments 26 and 27 on transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of any contract. These amendments increase the transparency and accountability around DECCs negotiations with EDF Energy or other companies building new nuclear power, in respect of investment contracts (amendment 26) and contracts for difference (amendment 27). The amendments would require the Secretary of State to ask the National Audit Office and Parliament to examine whether the contracts represent value for money, in line with the backbench business motion debated on 7 February 2013, and the cross party group of MPs and academics who wrote to the NAO recently asking for this, see:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9975199/UK-nuclea… Thirdly, amendment 28, which rules out payments to nuclear power through the capacity mechanism. There have been reports that DECC is looking at this option. New nuclear power already stands to gain huge subsidies through the contracts for difference and investment contracts in the Bill. Subsiding new nuclear power through the capacity mechanism would also contravene Ministers commitment not to give public subsidies for new nuclear power. This amendment also rules out the possibility that existing nuclear power could receive taxpayer handouts via the capacity mechanism. The capacity mechanism is supposed to be about ensuring supply meets demand at times of peak demand but nuclear is one of the least flexible electricity generation technologies available. I am strongly opposed to new nuclear power for economic and environmental reasons and I have seen a lot of evidence that we do not need new nuclear to meet carbon emissions reductions. I am also concerned that Government support for new nuclear power will mean much less investment in renewables and energy efficiency. Therefore, as my MP, I would like to you support two further amendments on nuclear too: Amendment 23: this would rule out payments to new nuclear power through the Contracts for Difference Mechanism in the Energy Bill. Amendment 25: this would rule out any public underwriting of construction costs or other public support to nuclear through investment contracts. It is widely reported that EDF Energy is seeking underwriting / guarantees in addition to a strike price of around double the market price for electricity. Such incentives are not available to all renewables and therefore this is another unjustifiable subsidy to new nuclear power. I would be grateful if you could write back to me to confirm whether you will represent my views on nuclear power by supporting some or all of these amendments. If you are unwilling to support them, at the very least please could you write to Ed Davey [if MP is a Lib Dem] / Michael Fallon [if MP is a Tory]/ Caroline Flint [if MP is Labour] to convey my views on nuclear power. Thank you in advance for your response and I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Name Address Date |
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Bridgend Green Party Meeting Agenda – Thursday 23rd May 2013
7.00pm Thursday 23rd May 2013 at the
The Railway PH at the bottom of Station Hill ALL WELCOME (Especially new members!) AGENDA:
NOTE – Venue is 1 minute’s walk from both the Bus and Train stations in Bridgend. REMINDER – If anyone needs a lift to any of our meetings, let Andy know and we will organise it for you. |
Bridgend UKIP branch is set up. Should we care?
The Glamorgan Gazette carries the news that ex-Tory Porthcawl Town Council leader Chris Smart has decided to help set up a UKIP branch in Bridgend. I have had several people ask for my reaction to this news. “Welcome” sums it up in a word.![]() (Chris Smart – it is safer to judge this book by its cover, rather than its name!) Anything that can help stir up a bit of attention on the moribund political scene in Bridgend has to be welcomed. The fact that they are a right wing party that plays on scapegoats and ignorance is obviously a pretty vile proposition, but who are they going to bother? They cannot bother the Conservatives too much as there are not that many of them to bother (outside of Porthcawl). This is one of the few consolations of the political scene here in South Wales. It is hard to imagine the Lib Dem support that has not already melted away being tempted by the UKIP offering. Getting in bed with the Tories has been catastrophic enough; so flirting with ‘super’ Tories cannot appeal. As for us, they may well nick a chunk of the protest vote that we may otherwise pick up, but that is ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ voters that do not engage with our message, but want to simply give a bloody nose the Party of Power. We have seen that already in local elections, where we can poll 25% in a two horse race as purely the anti-establishment vote. Most of it melts away as soon as others are attracted into the fray. If we are to have any long-term success it has to built on a core vote that is convinced by what we have to say. That simply cannot be anyone remotely tempted by UKIP’s message. Just in case you remain in any doubt what that message is, as well as peddling the usual immigration myths to scapegoat Johnny Foreigner, in traditional far right tradition, they are also firmly in the the climate change denial camp. You can see the full horror of UKIP’s vision for us here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/07/ukip-policies-manifesto-commitments (Their sop to the Green inclined? “Incentivise the production of electric cars.” Full stop.) So what of the Labour Party here in Bridgend? Should they be concerned? They clearly have the most to lose, as they hold most already. And Farage has mastered the art of appealing to ‘Blue Collar Conservatives’ – those that all too readily prepared to blame foreigners for our own failings; that discuss their politics over a pint and a fag; that want to believe we can have it all without having to make sacrifices; that will jump at short term fixes, because they are so fed up and miserable now! While we cannot offer any of this, anything that can challenge the stubbornly blind loyalty to Labour around here cannot be all bad. If their heads can be turned and the eyes and ears opened we may be able to finally engage with them too, and get them to realise that the socialist virtues that truly look after their interests, and were once (but no more) the bedrock of Labour, are now available in the new ecosocialism, based on social justice, localism and sustainability, that we represent in the Green Party. Andy Chyba |
What can we do about global warming? (to the tune of What can we do with the drunken sailor?)
The following was posted to the blog as a reply to the recent “Here we go again” posting, but it so good it deserves a wider audience.Hope you like this song. Best wishes, Oliver Swingler Ps. If you do, please feel free to pass it on! What can we do about global warming? Chorus: What can we do about global warming? 1. Walk, cycle, bus and train 2. Insulate homes and get them lined Chorus 3. Organic, local, seasonal eating Watch out! The seas are rising 4. Dont believe the greenwash, keep on prying Chorus: Lyrics by Oliver Swingler and Making Waves choir, Cullercoats, UK Version 3 March 2013 |
Interview on WORLDVIEW with Denis Campbell re the fracking campaign
Tories Make UK “Fracking Mad’: Even Charles Worries“Andy Chyba, Co-Founder of The UK Anti-Fracking Network joins World View with Denis Campbell to discuss the Tories mad dash to frack for natural gas across the UK and the potential newest ally in the anti-fracking/climate change wars, none other than Prince Charles.”
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Here we go again – Bridgend frackers Coastal Oil & Gas blight more areas of the Vale of Glamorgan
Who is Fracking the UK?
![]() http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/investigations/who-owns-rights-drill-gas-uk Extract: The oil giant, which completed its acquisition of global oil and gas firm Nexen in February has also been linked to oil spills in the South China Sea. The company it holds a stake in, Igas, has an interest in a license area which includes chancellor George Osbornes constituency. Igas is one of the largest holders UK drilling rights alongside fellow unconventional gas explorers Dart, Cuadrilla, Viking and Coal Mine Methane firm Alkane. CNOOC is also linked to Cuadrillas co-owner, AJ Lucas through a Hong-Kong based investment fund. The ownership of many of the firms proved impossible to verify as the full list of share owners was obscured by large nominee share holdings through financial institutions. One firm, Viking, is owned by an investment division of Barclays. The latest development comes as the UK’s onshore gas industry enters a period of rapid change – thanks to the prospect of tax breaks and exploratory drilling licenses for unconventional gas. Whilst global energy giants including BP have suggested that UK shale gas will not be a ‘game changer’, smaller firms – many from Australia, Asia and Canada – and some UK aspiring gas barons have taken an interest in the UKs relatively low-cost exploratory drilling licenses This means they would be amongst the first to benefit from any profits in the industry. The UK’s Department Of Energy and Climate change (DECC) has made significant efforts to make all license and block ownership information public and their data, showing ever UK onshore drilling license and its owner, is now available on a Google Map here. |